Related Links

Sign Up For Free Email Updates

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – No. 9 Stanford women’s rowing captured five of its seven races overall, including all three duals against No. 20 Duke Saturday in the season-opening Pac-12 Challenge regatta.

“We’re always excited to open the season at Redwood Shores and once again the course delivered a great day of racing, Stanford head women’s rowing coach Yasmin Farooq said. “Thanks to Cal, Duke and UCLA for bringing excellent competition to our home course. It was great to see improved depth in our fours lineups. All eight of these athletes have been pushing the level of the team. They are a motivated group and they showed it today.”

The Cardinal won two of its five dual races against No. 2 California, capturing victories in both the varsity four and second varsity four.

Stanford recorded open-water victories in the varsity eight, second varsity eight and varsity four over the Blue Devils during Saturday’s afternoon session. The Cardinal’s top boat completed the Redwood Shores course in a time of 6:36.50 to post a 28-second victory over the Blue Devils (7:04.50).

Stanford earned a 25-second win (6:54.10 – 7:19.20) over Duke in the second varsity eight and a 15-second triumph in the varsity four (7:52.0 – 8:07.60) to complete the sweep of the Blue Devils.

“In the afternoon we were able to work with some different lineups against Duke and we got some valuable information there,” Farooq said.

Stanford and California squared off in the morning session, in the first of two matchups between the Pac-12 rivals during the dual season.

The Cardinal (7:18.50) started strong with a win over Cal (7:21.10) in the varsity four. The Bears struck back in the next two races.

In a close varsity eight race the entire way, Stanford and Cal trade leads down the course. The Cardinal held a slight advantage at the 1,000-meter mark, before the Golden Bears pulled level. Cal began to pull ahead over the final 500 meters and won by a couple seats (6:15.6 – 6:18.0).

“The varsity eight race against Cal was like a boxing match, with both crews delivering back and forth body blows down the course,” Farooq said. “Cal landed the best one in the third 500 and that ended up being the race.”

Cal recorded an open-water win in the second varsity eight, before Stanford came back to post the victory in the varsity four.

“The 2V8 had a really aggressive first 1000 meters,” Farooq said. “Credit to them for attacking out of the blocks. Afterwards we broke down the race and discussed how to make it a more complete and sustainable effort.”

Stanford will be back in action next Saturday (April 2) in the Oregon State Classic on Dexter Lake in Oregon.

“We’re looking forward to racing Central Florida, Oklahoma, Oregon State and Washington in a week at the Oregon State Classic,” Farooq said.